China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has signed a major contract to supply steel rails for Morocco’s Kenitra–Marrakech high-speed railway, a 430-kilometer line launched last month by King Mohammed VI.
This agreement marks the first export of Chinese high-speed rail steel to Africa, according to a press release.
The project requires 60,000 tons of European-standard Rail 260 Manganese steel rails, measuring 36 meters in length and conforming to the 60 European Standard 1 specification, a European standard defining the rail’s profile and dimensions.
The Chinese company said that it conducted thorough advance planning, precisely identified project requirements, and refined its steel production processes for the rail contract.
The project also marks China’s first large-scale production and export of this specific high-speed rail steel. Production and development are already in progress, said the same source, with full delivery planned by 2026 to align with construction deadlines.
The company said that “the winning bid featured a comprehensive Chinese solution covering everything from design and manufacturing to storage, transportation, port handling, and overseas shipping.”
This all-in-one approach, along with the company’s strong reputation, product quality, and efficient supply chain management, helped it outcompete five competitors from Spain, Italy, and other European countries, added the source.
Last year, reports mentioned that ONCF issued a $62 million public tender outlining the manufacturing, delivery, and payment terms for steel rails needed to build the new high-speed line between Kenitra and Marrakech.
The contract required the successful bidder to handle transportation of the rails to the Casablanca port, while ONCF would oversee their logistics to the construction sites at Kenitra and Benguerir.
The Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed Rail Line project involves developing a high-speed rail route that connects the cities of Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech, also providing access to the Rabat and Casablanca airports.
Scheduled to open by late 2029, the new line is expected to significantly cut travel times across the kingdom, reducing the journey from Tangier to Casablanca to 1 hour and 40 minutes, while passengers traveling from Rabat to Casablanca Airport will benefit from a direct 35-minute route.
This infrastructure project, budgeted at MAD 53 billion (excluding rolling stock), is part of a larger investment program totaling MAD 96 billion.
The program also includes purchasing 168 trains for MAD 29 billion to renew the Moroccan National Railways Office (ONCF) fleet and support development initiatives, as well as allocating MAD 14 billion for maintenance, which will help develop 3 metropolitan transport networks in the Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech regions.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.